Barcelona have officially completed the signing of Portuguese right-back João Cancelo on a permanent deal, with the defender signing a three-year contract that will keep him at the club until June 2029.
The move marks Cancelo’s third spell with the Catalan giants after previously joining Barcelona on loan from Manchester City during the 2023/24 season and returning on loan from Al-Hilal in January 2026.
Cancelo has now made his return permanent after leaving Al-Hilal and becoming a free agent. Barcelona moved quickly to secure the experienced full-back, who has already shown his quality during his previous spells at the club.
The Portuguese defender has made 65 appearances for Barcelona across his previous loan spells, scoring six goals and providing nine assists. He also helped the club win the La Liga title during the 2025/26 campaign.
His versatility is expected to be an important asset for Barcelona, with Cancelo capable of operating on both sides of the defence and contributing strongly in attack.
The 32-year-old brings plenty of experience to Hansi Flick’s squad, having previously played for Benfica, Valencia, Inter Milan, Juventus, Manchester City, Bayern Munich, Barcelona and Al-Hilal.
Cancelo has made it clear that returning to Barcelona was a major priority for him, and he will now have the opportunity to continue his career at Camp Nou on a permanent basis.
With the deal officially completed, Cancelo will be hoping to help Barcelona defend their domestic success and compete for more major trophies, particularly in the Champions League.
